Growing Together in the Gospel

Leominster Baptist Church
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At Leominster Baptist Church, our deepest desire is for everyone, everywhere to experience the love, grace, and transforming power of Jesus in their everyday lives. We believe faith isn’t just for Sundays—it’s for every moment, every challenge, and every joy. Our vision is simple yet life-changing: to help people build an everyday relationship with Jesus— so they can live with him, like him and for him. This is a relationship that shapes their decisions, strengthens their hearts, and fills their lives with hope. Whether you’re new to faith, exploring what it means to follow Christ, or looking for a community to grow with, we invite you to join us on this journey. Wherever you are, whatever your story, you can walk with Jesus every day.

  1. Sep 11

    Acts Series Part 13: The Curious Incident on the Road to Damascus

    Send Dean your question here Acts Chapter 9 In the last podcast in this series, we heard about the Ethiopian eunuch and saw that nothing can stop someone becoming one of God's people. In this podcast, Acts chapter 9 takes that truth one step further. Not only can nothing stop us receiving God's grace, but nobody is beyond it.  In our reading we witness one of the most remarkable accounts in the book of Acts: Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–31). Luke deliberately reminds us who Saul was before introducing the change that takes place, because Saul is the man who approved of Stephen's death, who was "breathing out murderous threats" against Christians, and who travelled over 130 miles to arrest and imprison them. Hatred of the church had become the very air he breathed.  Yet everything changed in an instant when Saul was confronted by Jesus himself. A brilliant light stopped him in his tracks, and Jesus asked, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" These words reveal not only that Jesus was alive, but that He so closely identifies with His people that to persecute the church is to persecute him. In an instant Saul discovered that everything he believed about Jesus was wrong. He was left blind by the encounter and had to be led by the hand into Damascus before being ministered to by the very people he had come to persecute. Christianity is fundamentally different from every other religion. Most worldviews begin with humanity trying to reach God through effort, morality or religious devotion. The gospel begins with God coming to humanity. Saul was not searching for Jesus or gradually working his way towards faith. He was actively opposing Christ when Jesus intervened. Christianity is not ultimately the story of people finding God, but of God coming to rescue people who could never rescue themselves.  The account also reminds us that God's grace is never cheap. At first glance, Saul's conversion can seem almost unfair. How could someone responsible for such violence receive mercy? Yet God never simply overlooks sin. Every sin is paid for, either by the sinner or by Christ on the cross. Grace is free to us because it was unimaginably costly to Jesus. Nor did grace leave Saul unchanged. He exchanged influence for suffering, status for sacrifice, and comfort for hardship as he spent the rest of his life proclaiming the gospel. Forgiveness did not remove every earthly consequence, but it completely transformed his heart, his identity and his purpose.  Luke also highlights the faith of ordinary believers such as Ananias and Barnabas. Ananias obeyed Jesus' command to visit the church's greatest enemy and greeted him with the remarkable words, "Brother Saul." Barnabas later stood alongside Saul when others remained suspicious. Their examples remind us that grace changes not only how God sees us, but also how we are called to see one another.  Finally, Acts 9 confronts us with two searching questions. Firstly, have we quietly decided that some people are beyond God's reach? Saul's story—and the many modern testimonies of former persecutors who have come to faith—reminds us that nobody is beyond the saving power of Christ. Secondly, are we still allowing our past to define us? The gospel does not erase our history, but it 1 does give us a new identity. We are no longer defined by our failures, our shame or our achievements, but by the grace of Jesus Christ.  Acts 9 is not ultimately a story about Saul. It is a story about the pursuing, saving and transforming Christ. The same Jesus who met Saul on the Damascus Road still seeks out sinners today, still changes lives by His grace, and still calls ordinary people to trust Him and join His mission. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  2. Sep 6

    Acts Series Part 12: Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

    Send Dean your question here Acts 8:26–40  This week we witness a remarkable change of pace in the book of Acts. After crowds in Samaria are responding to the gospel, God sends Philip away from a thriving ministry to meet one man travelling on a desert road. It reminds us that while God delights in saving crowds, He never loses sight of the individual. Every person matters to Him.  The Ethiopian official represents someone who, in many ways, seemed to be an outsider. Although wealthy, influential and deeply interested in God, he carried barriers that would have made him feel he could never fully belong. He stood outside God's covenant people by birth because he wasn’t Jewish, and as a eunuch, he was restricted under the Old Testament law from full participation in the assembly of God's people. He had travelled hundreds of miles to worship, owned an expensive copy of Isaiah, and was sincerely seeking God, yet he still lived with the painful sense that he remained on the edge.  That is why his question is so significant: "What can stand in the way of my being baptised?" Beneath the practical question lies a much deeper one: "Is there still something about me that keeps me from being fully accepted by God?" Philip's response is not simply to reassure him with words but to baptise him immediately. In doing so, he declares the answer: Nothing. Because of Jesus, every barrier has been removed. The outsider is welcomed, the excluded are brought near, and all who trust in Christ are received as beloved children of God.  The same question echoes in our own hearts. We may not identify with the eunuch's circumstances, but many of us carry our own perceived barriers. My past prevents me. My failures prevent me. My shame, my doubts, my weaknesses, or the things that have been done to me prevent me. We quietly believe there is something that keeps us at a distance from God. The gospel answers every one of those fears with the cross. Jesus has borne our sin, removed our guilt and opened the way into the Father's family. Because of Him, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Until our answer to the question, "What prevents me?" becomes nothing, we have not yet fully grasped the wonder of God's grace.  The passage also reminds us that God's love is not merely for humanity in general but for each of us personally. It is possible to believe that God loves the world while quietly wondering whether He truly loves me. Paul doesn't simply say that Christ loved the world; he writes, "The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). That is the invitation of this passage—to move from believing that God loves people to resting in the truth that He loves me.  Receiving that love can feel a little like stepping into a cold ocean. At first, it feels uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Everything in us wants to get back out and carry on as before. But the longer we remain in the water, the more our bodies adjust. What first felt uncomfortable becomes the place where we are free to swim. In the same way, God doesn't simply want us to acknowledge His love as a doctrine; He invites us to remain in it until it becomes the place where we live. We never reach the end of His love, but as we continue to dwell in it, we become increasingly secure as His beloved children, free to enjoy Him and to love others. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  3. Aug 27

    Acts Series Part 11: Scattered with a Purpose

    Send Dean your question here Acts Chapter 8 We have reached a significant turning point in the book of Acts in this sermon. Up until chapter 7, almost everything took place in Jerusalem. The church experienced remarkable growth, unity and the power of the Holy Spirit, but it also faced increasing opposition. With the death of Stephen, that opposition reached a new level. Persecution broke out, believers were forced to leave Jerusalem and Saul began his violent campaign against the church.  At first glance, it looked like the mission has failed. Yet Acts 8 reveals exactly the opposite. What appeared to be defeat was actually God's strategy for advancing His kingdom. Luke tells us that "those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4). The enemy intended to extinguish the church, but instead he scattered the gospel like sparks from a fire. The mission didn't stop; it expanded.  This fulfilled Jesus' words in Acts 1:8. The gospel was never meant to remain in Jerusalem. God always intended it to spread through Judea, Samaria and ultimately to the ends of the earth. Persecution became the means by which God's people carried His good news into new places. If Act 1 was Jesus work and Act 2 was the church being established in Jerusalem then the book of Acts now moves into Act 3 as the gospel spreads beyond its first boundaries.  Let us consider the importance of both the gathered and scattered church. We gather each week to worship, pray, hear God's Word and encourage one another, but we scatter into our homes, workplaces, schools, cafés, sports clubs and neighbourhoods as Christ's representatives. Sunday is not the whole of church life. Our life for God is for Mondays to Saturdays too.  In the reading, the gospel spread primarily through ordinary believers rather than church leaders. While the apostles remained in Jerusalem, everyday Christians shared Jesus wherever they found themselves. Philip, one of the seven appointed to serve in Acts 6, became a powerful example of how God delights to use ordinary people who are willing to be available to Him. Philip's ministry in Samaria also showed that the gospel transforms communities. Luke tells us that "there was great joy in that city." As followers of Jesus we are called to be salt, bringing the flavour of God's kingdom through kindness, generosity, compassion and hope.  We are also called to be light, pointing people towards the truth of Christ with both grace and courage. We see this in Peter’s challenge to Simon and his call to repentance. Salt without light may make people appreciate our kindness but they may never discover the Saviour, whilst light without salt can communicate truth without love. Jesus calls us to embody both.  Perhaps the most important challenge comes right at the end of the message. Jesus does not simply tell His disciples to become salt and light; He declares that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Our mission flows from our identity, not from guilt or obligation. Because Christ has forgiven us, given us new life, and made His home within us, we have something worth sharing. We do not scatter because we are trying to earn God's approval; we scatter because His life is already at work within us.  As we begin a new week, the invitation is to see our ordinary lives differently. Our homes, workplaces, schools, friendships and communities are not interruptions to ministry—they are the very places God has sent us. May we ask Him to open our eyes to the opportunities already around us, to help us bring the grace of His kingdom and the truth of His gospel wherever He has scattered us.  You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  4. Aug 24

    Acts Series Part 10: What are you looking at? Stephen, the First Martyr.

    Send Dean your question here Looking Up – Acts 6:8–7:60  In this podcast we continue our series in Acts by looking at the powerful account of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Surrounded by false accusations, an angry crowd and the certainty of death, Stephen displayed an astonishing peace. Luke shows us that the source of his peace wasn't found in his circumstances, but in where he fixed his eyes.  When he faced his accusers, Stephen first invited his hearers to look back. His long speech wasn't simply a history lesson but a reminder that God has always been faithful to His people. Again and again, despite Israel's failures and repeated rejection of God's servants, the Lord remained faithful to His promises. Remembering God's faithfulness strengthens our faith today— but Stephen also showed that looking back alone isn't enough if we miss the living Christ.  The contrast then shifts to those around Stephen. While the religious leaders were consumed by anger, pride and hatred, Stephen refused to let his circumstances define his reality. So often we do the same. We look at the news, our finances, our health, our relationships or the uncertainty of the future, and our peace begins to disappear. Circumstances make a poor foundation for hope because they are always changing.  The turning point comes in Acts 7:55: "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven." As the crowd saw defeat, Stephen saw glory. As others saw a condemned man, Stephen saw the risen and reigning King standing at the Father's right hand. His circumstances hadn't changed—but seeing the risen Christ transformed the way he understood everything that was happening. Christians do not have peace because life is easy; we have peace because Christ reigns.  Finally, we saw that we become like what we behold. Stephen died praying for those who were killing him, echoing the words of Jesus on the cross. Having spent his life looking to Christ, he increasingly reflected the character of Christ. The challenge for each of us is simple but searching: What are we looking at? Are our eyes fixed only on our problems, or are they fixed on the Saviour who is with us, reigns over us, and one day will welcome us home?  May we remember God's faithfulness, refuse to let our circumstances have the final word, and make it our daily habit to lift our eyes to Jesus. For beyond every trial is glory, beyond every cross is a crown, and above it all stands our unchanging King.  You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  5. Aug 15

    Acts Series Part 9: Every Gift Used: How the Early Church Grew

    Send Dean your question here This podcast reflects on Acts Chapter 6 and the problem that arose when the early church began to grow. Widows were being overlooked, not because people didn't care, but because the church had grown beyond what a handful of leaders could carry on their own. The solution wasn't for the apostles to work harder. It was to release more people into the ministries God had entrusted to them. That has something to say to us as a church. Church life can easily become about trying to make sure every gap is filled. We need people to welcome, make tea and coffee, help with children and young people, play music, run sound and visuals, preach, visit those who are struggling, encourage others, organise events, pray, mentor younger believers, and even sand wooden boards for a building project. Those needs matter. But Acts 6 reminds us that it is not just about filling every gap;the ultimate goal is every gift within the body being used. When church becomes primarily about filling gaps, a few people can end up carrying more and more. We can even begin to hold tightly to "our" ministries, seeing new gifts as a threat rather than something to celebrate. But ministry doesn't belong to us. It belongs to God. As people discover and use the gifts God has given them, ministry is shared, needs are met, and the whole body grows stronger. That's when church stops revolving around a few people and becomes what God intended: a body where every member is connected to Christ, the Head, and every part does its work. As we grow, perhaps the question isn't, "Where are the gaps?" but, "What has God entrusted to me, and how might he want me to use it for the good of others?" There are plenty of opportunities to serve. We need people to help with welcoming, refreshments, children and youth work, music, sound and visuals, pastoral visiting, hospitality, prayer ministry, practical projects and much more. But more than that, we want to help people discover and use the gifts God has already placed within them. So if you've been wondering where you fit, or if God might be nudging you towards something new, why not take a look at the serving page on our website? There you'll find some of the ways you can get involved, and we'd love to help you discover where your gifts and God's mission meet.   Visit the website here: https://www.leobc.co.uk/nextsteps You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  6. Aug 8

    Acts Series Part 8: Responding to Persecution with Wisdom and Courage

    Send Dean your question here Acts Chapter 5 This podcast looks at Acts chapter 5 through the lens of three possible responses to challenge, opposition, and fear: we can quit, we can camp, or we can climb. The apostles stood before the most powerful religious leaders in Jerusalem, having been arrested for proclaiming Jesus. For many, this would have been a moment to retreat, compromise, or stay quiet. Instead, they boldly declared that Jesus—the one who was crucified—had been raised from the dead and is now King. A respected leader named Gamaliel reminded the council that many movements had come and gone. If this movement was merely human, it would fade away. But if it was from God, no one would be able to stop it. Two thousand years later, Christianity's survival and growth point to the truth of his words. The apostles refused to quit. But neither did they camp. Camping is often more tempting than quitting. We keep following Jesus, but stop taking risks. We settle into what is comfortable and avoid the things that might stretch us. After being released, the apostles gathered to pray -they didn't pray for an easier life or greater protection. They prayed for boldness …  and boldness is what keeps disciples climbing. For most of us, boldness won't look dramatic. It looks like speaking up when fear says, "Keep quiet." Reaching out when fear says, "Hold back." Offering to pray for someone, inviting a neighbour for coffee, or speaking naturally about Jesus when the opportunity comes. The apostles weren't fearless superheroes. They knew weakness and uncertainty just like we do. Yet they kept going because they had been with Jesus. They weren't told to explain everything. They were told to "tell the people about this new life." That is still our calling today. We are not called to save people, fix every problem, or have an answer for everything. We are simply called to share the life we have found in Jesus—a life where, when we struggle, he holds us; when we fall, he lifts us; when we fail, he forgives us. So the challenge this week is simple: pray for boldness. Ask God for the courage to speak up when fear says stay quiet, to reach out when fear says hold back, and to keep going when fear says give up. Because if we never ask for boldness, we'll probably miss the opportunities God puts in front of us—and before long, we'll find ourselves camping when Jesus is inviting us to climb. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  7. Aug 2

    Acts Series Part 7: God Sees the Heart

    Send Dean your question here In this podcast we explore one of the most sobering and challenging passages in the book of Acts: the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11). At first glance, it can seem like a story about money or judgment, but Luke's concern runs much deeper. By placing this account immediately after the joyful picture of generosity and unity at the end of Acts 4, he invites us to compare two very different hearts: Barnabas, who gave out of genuine surrender to God, and Ananias and Sapphira, who wanted the appearance of surrender without the reality of it. The early church had already faced opposition, threats, and persecution from outside, yet none of those things stopped the gospel from advancing. Instead, the enemy's attack came from within through deception and hypocrisy. The issue was never the amount of money Ananias and Sapphira gave; it was their desire to project an image that did not match reality. Their story is a reminder that while people see appearances, God sees the heart. It is possible to learn Christian language, participate in church life, and maintain a spiritual reputation while slowly drifting from intimacy with Jesus. The greatest danger is not simply failure or weakness, but the temptation to hide behind a carefully managed image. Yet the gospel offers something far better: the freedom to be honest. This passage ultimately points us towards abiding in Christ. Pretending focuses on appearances; abiding focuses on relationship. Pretending asks, "How do I look?" Abiding asks, "Am I remaining close to Jesus?" The invitation of the gospel is not to impress God, but to come into the light, bringing our real selves to Him. Because of Jesus, we no longer need to hide, perform, or pretend. The One who knows us completely is also the One who loves us completely. God's opposition to pretence is not because He is looking for flawless people. It is because pretence convinces us we are healthy when we are sick, free when we are captive, and close to God when our hearts have drifted. The tragedy of Ananias and Sapphira is not simply that they lied. It is that they chose appearance over reality, and in doing so cut themselves off from the very honesty through which God brings healing. The gospel begins when we stop hiding and step into the light. Reflection Where might appearances have become more important than intimacy in your life? Where is Jesus inviting you to lay down your fig leaf coverings and learn to bear fruit that flows from abiding in Him?You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

  8. Jul 26

    Acts Series Part 6: Knowing How to Stand: The Disciples Face the Authorities

    Send Dean your question here Acts Chapter 4 This podcast continues our series in Acts by looking at Chapter 4 and one of the simplest yet most striking descriptions of the early church. Peter and John found themselves standing before the very authorities who had orchestrated Jesus' crucifixion just weeks earlier. They were ordinary fishermen, not trained religious experts, yet they spoke with such courage and conviction that the religious leaders were astonished. Luke tells us the reason: "They took note that these men had been with Jesus." There is a danger in separating what God intended to keep together. Some of us settle for what we might call "bread Christianity"—structure, routine, attendance, and activity, but without much spiritual life. Others pursue "filling Christianity"—experiences, emotions, and spiritual highs, but without deep roots or lasting formation. Chapter 4 shows us a better way. The Holy Spirit was never meant to remain in the upper room. The life of God was meant to fill ordinary people and overflow into everyday faithfulness. Discipleship is not primarily about becoming more impressive, knowledgeable, or skilled. It is about being with Jesus and allowing His life to shape ours. Peter and John had first come and seen, then spent years with Jesus, and now they were becoming like Him—speaking with courage, living with faithfulness, and doing what He did. The challenge for all of us is simple: make room to be with Jesus. In a world full of podcasts, books, videos, and endless content, it is possible to know more about Jesus while spending less time with Him. Information alone does not transform us. Formation happens when we abide in Him, walk with Him, pray, listen, and learn to follow Him day by day. The good news from Acts Chapter 4 is that God delights in filling ordinary people. Whether you are taking your first steps of faith, returning after a season of drifting, or simply feeling weary, the invitation remains the same: come back to Jesus, abide in Him, and allow His life to fill the ordinary bread of your everyday life. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

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About

At Leominster Baptist Church, our deepest desire is for everyone, everywhere to experience the love, grace, and transforming power of Jesus in their everyday lives. We believe faith isn’t just for Sundays—it’s for every moment, every challenge, and every joy. Our vision is simple yet life-changing: to help people build an everyday relationship with Jesus— so they can live with him, like him and for him. This is a relationship that shapes their decisions, strengthens their hearts, and fills their lives with hope. Whether you’re new to faith, exploring what it means to follow Christ, or looking for a community to grow with, we invite you to join us on this journey. Wherever you are, whatever your story, you can walk with Jesus every day.

Information

  • Creator
    Leominster Baptist Church
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Growing Together in the Gospel
  • Show Website
    Growing Together in the Gospel